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North Bihar’s popular Vaishali Superfast Express has been converted into express category with new number 15565/15566 from today 7th December. With this change, fares of all coaches including sleeper and third AC have been reduced. Which will provide great relief to the passengers. Recently its route has been extended to Lalitgram.
Samastipur: The most liked Vaishali Superfast Express between North Bihar and New Delhi has entered the service of passengers in a completely new form from today, 7th December. Railways has converted this popular train from Superfast to Express category, with which its old number 12553/12554 has been changed to new number 15565/15566. By changing the category of the train, a big relief has been given in the fare, the fare in all the sleeper, third AC, second AC and first AC coaches has been reduced, which will directly benefit lakhs of passengers. Under this change, booking of tickets for the journey of December 7 had already been started 60 days in advance with the new number. The new fare structure is being considered an important step towards reducing the burden on passengers’ pockets and further increasing the popularity of this historic train.
Route expansion reduces speed, but services remain fine
This change of Vaishali Express has come at a time when recently the Railways has extended its route up to Lalitgram. Earlier this train used to run till Saharsa, but as per the policy of expanding the line and increasing regional connectivity, it has been extended further. This is the fourth time that its route has been expanded. Due to increase in routes, there has been some decrease in the average speed, but this facility is proving to be very beneficial for long distance passengers. People of North Bihar have considered this train as the most reliable option for Delhi since the beginning. After the reduction in fares and increased routes, it is expected that its ridership will increase rapidly in the coming days. This train has not only been a medium of travel, but has also become an emotional link for the people between Bihar and Delhi.
It was started in 1973 as Jayanti Janata Express.
The history of Vaishali Express is as rich as its journey. It was launched on 31 October 1973 with the name of ‘Jayanti Janata Express’, which was inaugurated by the then Railway Minister Lalit Narayan Mishra. At that time this train used to go from Samastipur to New Delhi via Barauni, Mokama and Patna. Facilities like brown coaches, dining car, library, AC and sleeper coaches made it one of the most modern and attractive trains of that era. With time, during the expansion and upgradation of railway lines, its route also changed, on January 2, 1975, it started going to Delhi via Muzaffarpur route, in 1982 it was extended to Barauni, then on March 7, 2019, to Saharsa and now on October 4, 2025, it was extended to Lalitgram. For many decades, this train has not only been a means of transportation for millions of passengers, but also their memories, struggles and dreams. There is a living heritage associated with it.
